Bernie Ecclestone has backed Michael Schumacher for the 2010 championship after the German announced his return to Formula One earlier this week.

Mercedes confirmed Schumacher's comeback on Wednesday, which will see him paired with Nico Rosberg in an all-German team. In an interview with Formula One's official website, Ecclestone was confident Schumacher would be a threat for the title.

"Forget about winning races - I have him on my bill for winning the championship," Ecclestone said. "He will be of immense value for the team to push the development of the car. We have all seen in the past that he was never satisfied unless the car was in perfect condition. With his drive for the optimum and his deep technical understanding he will save the team precious time. Nico Rosberg will be the one who will directly benefit from all this."

Ecclestone also said the news was good for the sport, after it endured a tough year of manufacturer withdrawals and headline grabbing scandal in the form of Crashgate.

"I always said that Formula One is a strong brand," he added. "It has demonstrated time and again that it can pull itself up by its own bootstraps. And yes, all indications point to a jaw-dropping season. Fans will love it. I think it is fantastic for Formula One that he turned into a 'comeback kid'. But at the same time I also think that it's good for Michael."

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